How can I improve my dolphin kick? I feel that my dolphin kick is weak as anything, and I am having trouble with the nice undulating motion of dolphin kick. I am told that the body should undulate from the armpits all the way down with the hands streamlining and staying quite still. Yet my undulating motion feels unnatural. What are some drills or swims that I can do to improve it? And any other tips anyone can give me about dolphin kicks (the backstroke start dolphin kicks too)? Thanks a lot.
Parents
Former Member
First, there's a difference between the body dolphin that is at the core of butterfly and the dolphin kick that is used while streamlining in backstroke. The body dolphin starts at your chest, while the dolphin kick starts more at your abdomen.
For a body dolphin, start by pressing your chest into the water and letting the water push it back up again, and let the ripple created by this travel down your body to your toes.
For a dolphin kick, think more about thrusting up and down with your belly button, and letting the ripple travel down to your toes.
Keep in mind that its easier to maintain your momentum using a body dolphin than it is to build momentum. So you should start with a good push off the wall. You also may find it easier to get a feel for it if you try it first using fins, and then try to emulate the same feeling with the fins off.
Bob
First, there's a difference between the body dolphin that is at the core of butterfly and the dolphin kick that is used while streamlining in backstroke. The body dolphin starts at your chest, while the dolphin kick starts more at your abdomen.
For a body dolphin, start by pressing your chest into the water and letting the water push it back up again, and let the ripple created by this travel down your body to your toes.
For a dolphin kick, think more about thrusting up and down with your belly button, and letting the ripple travel down to your toes.
Keep in mind that its easier to maintain your momentum using a body dolphin than it is to build momentum. So you should start with a good push off the wall. You also may find it easier to get a feel for it if you try it first using fins, and then try to emulate the same feeling with the fins off.
Bob
